WAR85
06-21-04, 06:19 PM
What are your opinions on folding bikes? I am really thinking of getting one. The idea of being able to take your bike anywhere seems cool. Anyone own one?
Folding Bikes - Folding Bikes?
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zoridog
06-21-04, 06:27 PM
I've been giving this alot of thought myself. I got quite a bit of good info from this site:
http:/nordicgroup.us/fold/
I haven't had a chance to ride one yet but it sure seems like a good idea.
http:/nordicgroup.us/fold/
I haven't had a chance to ride one yet but it sure seems like a good idea.
neon
06-23-04, 10:08 AM
Great thread on this back in March:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=414041&page=2&pp=25
Also a lot of info at the site of a UK alt-transport magazine called A to B, including a folder buyer's guide: http://www.atob.org.uk/Buyers'_Guide.html
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=414041&page=2&pp=25
Also a lot of info at the site of a UK alt-transport magazine called A to B, including a folder buyer's guide: http://www.atob.org.uk/Buyers'_Guide.html
Dahon.Steve
06-23-04, 12:41 PM
What are your opinions on folding bikes? I am really thinking of getting one. The idea of being able to take your bike anywhere seems cool. Anyone own one?
I have two Dahon folding bikes. In my opinion, Dahon gives you the best bang for the buck when it comes to folding bikes and can fully recommend only the models costing more than $400.00 dollars. I would also recommend the Bike Friday for serious touring overseas. I would NOT recommend a Bike Friday if you intend to use it with trains and buses each day. Using a folding bike in conjunction with multimode transport requires a "quick fold" and this is not the Fridays' strength. Furthermore, I don't think you want to treat a $1,500.00 Bike Friday as a town bike to be used in snow, mud, rain and salt.
Other folding bikes from Europe (Brompton/Birdy) are nice but they are waaaaay overpriced in the U.S. and parts have to be ordered overseas. I would stick with Dahon and Bike Friday if you're situated in the U.S.
Some notes on folders.
1. Hybrids at best - All folders are just hybrids at best because of the smaller wheel. Don't believe the hype that these bikes are just as fast as a Lightspeed. To get road bike performance, you'll have to spend over 1K and that's too much to spend on a town bike. In order to get that fast, you would have to peddle like a madman and it's just not efficient. But you are making a compromise when getting a folder.
2. Increased danger - Folders with that smaller wheel can throw you off more easily. At night, you will have to be more careful where that front wheel goes and it's an extra element of danger. Not too much but it is there.
3. Hard ride - The smaller wheel gives you a much harder ride than a bike with 700 cc wheels. You're going to need a good Brooks saddle with springs if you intend on buying a folding bike with 16' inch wheels. I find a twenty inch wheel folder with high pressure tires give a much harder ride than road bike with similar wheels
I have two Dahon folding bikes. In my opinion, Dahon gives you the best bang for the buck when it comes to folding bikes and can fully recommend only the models costing more than $400.00 dollars. I would also recommend the Bike Friday for serious touring overseas. I would NOT recommend a Bike Friday if you intend to use it with trains and buses each day. Using a folding bike in conjunction with multimode transport requires a "quick fold" and this is not the Fridays' strength. Furthermore, I don't think you want to treat a $1,500.00 Bike Friday as a town bike to be used in snow, mud, rain and salt.
Other folding bikes from Europe (Brompton/Birdy) are nice but they are waaaaay overpriced in the U.S. and parts have to be ordered overseas. I would stick with Dahon and Bike Friday if you're situated in the U.S.
Some notes on folders.
1. Hybrids at best - All folders are just hybrids at best because of the smaller wheel. Don't believe the hype that these bikes are just as fast as a Lightspeed. To get road bike performance, you'll have to spend over 1K and that's too much to spend on a town bike. In order to get that fast, you would have to peddle like a madman and it's just not efficient. But you are making a compromise when getting a folder.
2. Increased danger - Folders with that smaller wheel can throw you off more easily. At night, you will have to be more careful where that front wheel goes and it's an extra element of danger. Not too much but it is there.
3. Hard ride - The smaller wheel gives you a much harder ride than a bike with 700 cc wheels. You're going to need a good Brooks saddle with springs if you intend on buying a folding bike with 16' inch wheels. I find a twenty inch wheel folder with high pressure tires give a much harder ride than road bike with similar wheels
james Haury
07-03-04, 07:25 AM
I have two yeahs a chinese liscensed dahon copy( Tech is Dahon but last years or so) I like them I have a 16" with a 29.6- 64 inch gear range and a 20" with a 37-80 inch gear range. They are both 7 speeds and have friction shifting. I made them that way they started as 6 speeds with gripshift. I like them I have ridden the 16" wheeled one 10 miles and could have ridden it farther. Another interesting looking folder is the downtube VI look for it through q bike on ebay. I mean go to q bike first and then punch in dahon in the search term box.
james Haury
07-03-04, 07:27 AM
Will anyone be commuting back and forth along the chicago lakefront to no work in particular today? I am looking for someone to commute with today to no particular destination?
Guest
07-05-04, 05:27 PM
If you're ever looking for a partner, you can go to Big Rides and Riding Partners for your post.
P.S. If you ever want to do early morning rides (4am) drop me a PM. I can't stand fighting traffic and that's an optimal time for me.
Koffee
P.S. If you ever want to do early morning rides (4am) drop me a PM. I can't stand fighting traffic and that's an optimal time for me.
Koffee
james Haury
07-05-04, 06:06 PM
If you're ever looking for a partner, you can go to Big Rides and Riding Partners for your post.
P.S. If you ever want to do early morning rides (4am) drop me a PM. I can't stand fighting traffic and that's an optimal time for me.
Koffee I shall keep you in mind though I ride at a more leisurely pace and I think you are a bit of a scorcher.
P.S. If you ever want to do early morning rides (4am) drop me a PM. I can't stand fighting traffic and that's an optimal time for me.
Koffee I shall keep you in mind though I ride at a more leisurely pace and I think you are a bit of a scorcher.
Guest
07-05-04, 06:27 PM
You've got to be kidding! I'm no scorcher... give me a call anytime, dude. :)
Koff
Koff
james Haury
07-06-04, 06:19 PM
I will but I am busy this weekend.
Guest
07-06-04, 06:55 PM
Whenever you're feeling like you want some company. No rush.
Koffee
Koffee